Machine for cutting sheet material



Feb. 2, 1954 F. M. HILL ET u.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING SHEET MATERIAL 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 20. 1947 wild Ilr r IN VEN TOR. FRAN/f .H/L

F. M. HILL El' AL MACHINE FOR CUTTING SHEET MATERIAL Feb. 2, 1954 13 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20. 1947 @ai I am, -vll Vwillm INVENTOR. FFA/VA .H/LA HAHOLO E BLA/VC Feb. 2, 1954 F. M. HILL E-r A1. 2,667,922

" MACHINE FOR CUTTING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Dec. 20. 1947 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 l. IJ 0 INVENToR.

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Feb. 2, 1954 M. HILL s1' M MACHINE CUTTING SHEET MATERIAL 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed DeG. 20, 1947 -ii f i; @v j 7 y \N @N Feb. 2, 1954 F` M. 'HILL .er A1.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING SHEET MATERIAL 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 20. 1947 f INVENTOR. FRAN/f M- H/L /177' R/VE YS A.

Feb. 2, 1954 F. M. HILL ET AL MACHINE FOR CUTTING SHEET MATERIAL i3 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 20, 1947 Feb. 2, 1954 Filed Dec. 20, 1947 F. M. HILL E' AL MACHINE FOR CUTTING SHEEI` MATERIAL 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 Y B DOA, KW. Amr

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Feb. 2, 1954 F. M. HILL E1' AL MACHINE Foa CUTTING SHEET MATERIAL '13 sheets-snakt'- e Filed Dec. 20. 1947 IIIIIL C Ill-.. 3 r f INVENTOR. fR/uvfr H. H11; HAH00 H. 1 5 BY Feb. 2, 1954 vF'. M. |||L| E'r A1.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING SHEET MATERIAL.-

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Feb, 2, 1954 Filed Dec. 20. 1947 F. M. HILL ET AL MACHINE FOR CUTTING SHEET MATERIAL vvvvv 15 'Sheefs-Sheet 10 Sm. INVENTOR. FRAN/f f7. //LL A0040 H. .5 zA/vc Eph, mam, Ew

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Feb. 2, 1954 F. M. HILL Er A L 2,667,922

MACHINE FOR CUTTING MATERIAL INVEN TOR. FRAN/f f7. H/L

BY oxamdaw PM2:

Armin/ysa Feb. 2, 1954 F. M. HILL E'r A1.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING SHEET MATERIAL 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Dec. 20, 1947 m DAMS NS M m INVENTOR.

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Feb. 2, 1954 F. M. HILL Er AL MACHINE FOR CUTTING SHEET MATERIAL' Filed Dec. 20, 1947 13 She'ets-Sheet 13 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR CUTTING SHEET MATERIAL Application December 20, 1947, Serial No. 792,874

Claims.

This invention relates to power driven machines for cutting and trimming sheet material and, more particularly, to paper cutting machines and to operating and control mechanisms for such machines.

Heretofore, p-ower operated machines of the class described, have operated through a predetermined cycle of operations, and have been permitted, or are capable of, but little variation in mode of operation. The drive and control mechanisms have been expensive and cumbersome. They have also been diflicult to adjust.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide increased variability of operation, avoiding the necessity for following exactly a given cycle. Another object is to permit variation in the pressures used. Another object is to make the machine more easily adjustable. Further objects will appear hereinafter.

The machine of our invention will best be understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the machine as seen from the left of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3a is a vertical section on line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. Eris a view in horizontal section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section on line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a detail view in front elevation showing the knife bar operating unit;

Fig, 8 is a vertical section on line 8 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 8a is a section on line 8a 8a of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on line 8 9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on line l l of Fig. l;

Fig. 10a is a detail view in horizontal section of a modified form of the device;

Fig. l1 is a detail view in front elevation showing a clamping unit;

Fig. 12 is a detail View in elevation showing control valves and interlock mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a detail View in side elevation of a locking mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a detail View in front elevation of the mechanism of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view of electrical control mechanism;

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view of hydraulic control mechanism;

Fig. 1'7 is a longitudinal section taken on line Il ll of Fig. 4;

Fig. 18 is a vertical section on line I8 |8 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a detail plan view of a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a detail view similar to Fig. 3 illusltrating one operative position of the machine, and

Fig. 21 is a detail view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a second operative position of the machine. l

In the drawings, a cutting table or bed I is mounted on a base 2 on the sides of which are secured standards 3 and 4 joined at the top by a cross head 5 (Fig. 2). Standards 3 and 4 form channels t and 'l (Fig. 4) in which a knife bar frame 8 (Fig. 7) is reciprocally movable. Also formed in standards 3 and 4 are grooves 9 and i5 for guiding a clamp frame l l shown in Fig. 1l.

The cutting mechanism-The knife bar frame 8 (Fig. 7) has draw-bars 2G and 2| which are slidably mounted in the channels (i and 1. The draw-bars are diveded into two parts joined by right and left-hand threaded screws 22-22 and 23 23 provided with adjusting nuts 24 and 25. Access to the adjusting nuts is provided by swingably mounted covers 25.* 26 (Fig. 5) located intermediate the ends of the standards. Draw-bars 2i? and 2l are rigidly joined at the bottom by a braced cross-member 2l and connected at the top by a knife bar 28 carrying a knife 29 which may be adjustably secured thereon by any suitable means such as bolts Sil'in the knife and slots 3| in the knife bar.` Knife bar 28 is provided with horizontal slots 32 32 which receive rolls 33 33 carried by pins 34 and 35 secured to said drawbars. Other rolls 36 and 3l, carried by pins 38 and 39 secured to the draw-bars, are located at the top of the knife bar. The knife bar also has diagonally disposed slots di! and il in which are disposed slide blocks l2 and Q3. These blocks are provided with bores M M which receive the ends of pins i5-i5 which are secured to a floating clamp bar i6 (Fig. 3). Rods M dl on either end of the floating clamp lili are adjustably set to check upward movement of the clamp on striking stops 8 48 on the cross head 5. Secured to the cross member 2l by a pin i9 is one end of a piston rod 5S, which passes to a piston head 5| (Fig. 16) in a hydraulic cylinder 52 secured to the base of the machine. This cylinder will be referred to as the knife cylinder. The knife bar 28, which is movable horizontally as well as vertisurface is provided with a jcushion 65 (Fig. 20).

The cross bar 62 is connected 4by bracket 6'6'and pin 61 to piston 68 of a hydraulic cylinder 69. This cylinder is secured to the Vba'se ofthe nia'- chine and will be referred to as the clamp bar cylinder.

The controls and power mechdis`m-L-Tlie source of power is an electric motor 10.7 which drives a pump 1| (Figs. 1 and 16). The pressure unit 1| is a double pump unit provided with relief valves. The pump unit 1I has a largerpur'npy 1|a and a smaller pump 1lb, each of which has a relief valve 1|c and 1|d, respectively. `Frein the larger pump, a pressure line 12 passes to apilot controlled unloading valve 13. The line 12 then passes to a check valve 14, and thence to a fourway'control valve 15. 1 I

A conduit 16 passes fluid from valve 15 to the knife cylinder 52, and conduit 11 passes fluid from the-'cylinder back to the valve 15. The conduit 11 is also connected to the unloading valve 13 by a pilot line 18 and to a sequence valve 16 by a line 80. The sequence valve is a valve which passes flow from one orifice to another until a predetermined pressure is built up and'then acts to open `a third orice and to exert pressure through it. A return pipe 8| leads from valve 15 to areservoir 82. Unloading valve 13 is provided with a return conduit 83 Vwhich returns fluid to the reservoir 62. A vent line '64 passes from the relief valve of pump 1lb to a pressure adjuster 65 which is regulated by means of a knob 86. A conduit 81 leads from the pressure adjuster 85 to the sequence valve 19. A pressure line 90 passes from the smaller pump toa fourway control valve 9| from which a conduit 92 leads to the clamp cylinder 69. A pressure Vindicater 93 is interposed in this line. A conduit 94 leads from the clamp cylinder 69 to the sequence valve 19. A conduit 95 leads from the valve 19 back to the control valve 9|. A returnpipe 96 leads from valve 9| to the reservoir 6 2. A drain pipe 01 connects the sequence valve 16 and return pipe 96. Fluid in the reservoir 82 is drawn through a straining mechanism 66 into intake pipes 69 leading to the intake side of the pump unit 1|. The pump has an exhaust pipe |00 back to the reservoir 82.

Control valve is operated by a valve stem I I 0 connected to a lock-piece I having a notch I I2. Lock piece I I I is operated when free by a rod I I3 connected to a lever ||4 pivoted at ||5 toa bracket IIE secured to the base of the machine. Control valve 9| is operated by a valve stem ||1 connected to a cam block IIB having a cam surface H9. Cam block |I8 is operated by a rod |20 connected to a lever I2I pivoted at |22 to a bracket |23 secured to the base of the machine.

A mechanical lock mechanism shown in Figs. 12 and 16 comprises the cam block I I8 and locking block I I heretofore described in conjunction with a connecting rod |30 slidably mounted l.in lugs |3| secured to the base 2. One end of the connecting rod |30 carries a bolt |32; theoppos'ite end carries a roll |33. The rod'is urged'tothe right as viewed in Fig. 12 by a spring |34 held under tension between a post y |35 held on a collar |36 secured to the rod |30 and a second post |31 secured to one of the lugs |3|. The roll |33 is always in contact with cam surface I I9. In the locked position shown in Fig. 12, the cam surface has forde'dfthe rodto the left to cause the bolt |32 t -engage the 'notch |'|2 in locking memb er I. In this position, both control valves are closed.

'Figs 13, Y11'ar'id`15. V`A switch box |40 located on Vthefront/df the'ba'se (see also Fig. 2) is used to 'energize the circuit to the motor 10. Simultane- 'ouslypafsrolenoidflll is actuated to draw back (i.

The; electricalvcontrols are best observed in equo thelft innig. 13) a locking bar 142 which Visjnowrngally urged in the opposite direction by a spring |43 secured 'to a collar |44 on the bar and to 'a'po'st1I45 on a box or lug |46 in which the bar |42 is slidably mounted. As shown in Fig. 13, the bar |42 in its Yforward position slidesunder the blocks f|41 and |48 which are respectively secured tothe clampframe-I and the knife bar frame 8. The function of jthe lock'bar mechanism above described is to lock the clamp and-knife bar 'frames and 8 in upward position when'the machine is wholly at rest. -If desired, a light circuit lL can be added to provide illumination under the cross'head 5.

The stock l feeding mechanism.-The Vmechanism hereinafter described is best illustrated-in Figs. 2, 3, 3a, 4, 17,118 and 19. As shown-in Fig. v3, the stack'of paper S is'placed flat on the table I. This stack has to be advanced a Ameasured'distance over the table 'until the portion to becut off extends over aV linev between the knife blade 29 and a cutting board |50. This isI accomplished by an adjustable gauge fence |5| having'contact fingers |52 (Fig. 4). Theg'au'gefence-is Inade'in three parts or sections indicated at |53, |54'and |55. Thesesections areheldfadjustably bybolts |56 extending fromthe center section |54throug'h lcts |51|51 in the sections |53 and |55 (Fig.

Bolts IBO-|60 pass from center section |54 downward Ythrough a'slot I'EI (Fig. '4) in the'bed or table into a runner'l'62` (Fig. 17) guided'for movement .alongtheslot The runner |62 has a bracket |63 secured as by bolts |64 to an endless chain |65 guided abouta wheel |66 under the rear end of the table and turned by a sprocket '|61 held under the frontY of the table by a'pin |68. A turning wheel |69' is secured to the sprocket.Y The Yrear Wheel |66 is carriedby a yoke |10 having a slot |1| through which "a bolt |12 extends to the underside'ofthel table. The yoke |10 may be adjustably secured by bolt |12 to hold the 'chain |65 Droperlyjtightened lspaced a short distance back of the turning wheel |69 isa lockingmechanism best'obs'e'rved in Figs. 3 and 3a. This mechanism comprises Aan upper clampingrnember l|14 whichmaybe'a lug formed on the underside of the tablen I (see Fig. 3d) and a lower clamping member |155carried by and slidable on a'pin |16. Thelwer part of` member |15 hasfa slanting oream'surface |11 which ismatchedb'y a cam surface |18 on ahub l|19 of a. rleve`r` |30.;V Swinging-this lever about the pin|16 tothe right as, viewed causes it to vpress the chainf|65fbetween its'upper slurface 'and the lower surface'f the Yupliur clamp The center section 54`ofthe gaugecarrilesa end a clamp |82 adapted to grip"an-zridlessY tape |83 passed about wheels |84 and |85. Wheel |84 is carried by a post |86 mounted at the rear of the table or bed I, and wheel |85 is carried on a pin |91 in a boss |88 (Fig. 3) in the cross head of the machine. The tape is marked with suitable indicia (not shown) and these are read at the front of the machine through a magnifying lens |89 having a suitable indicator (not shown).

As shown in Fig. 10a, the channel 6 in standard 3 may be provided with a shield |90 secured by any suitable means at the orifice of the channel. The shield prevents paper trimmings from falling in the channel.

M ode of operation-Before the machine is operated, it will be assumed that the mechanism is ready for operation and at rest. The knife bar 28 and clamp 63 are in the raised position shown in Fig. 6. The solenoid |4| is energized and the locking bar |42 is forward in position to support the clamp frame and knife bar frame as shown in Fig. 3. The dual pump is not operating, and the unloading valve 13 has reduced the pressure in the line 12 to atmospheric pressure. The gauge fence |5| is located at the rear end of the table The operator places a stack of paper S with one side of the stack against the prongs |52. If this stack is large, and if only one stack is to be trimmed, the gauge fence |5| will have the sections |53, |54 and |55 in alinement as shown in Fig. 4. The operator then turns the wheel |59 until the stack is pushed forward the desired distance as indicated on the tape |83 as viewed through the glass |89. Then the operator throws the switch in switchbox |40. The motor drives the dual pump unit 1|, which builds up pressure in the lines 12 and 90. The pump relief valves l|c and 1|d are pre-set to permit a desired maximum pressure for both pumps. The maximum for the large pump should be considerably in excess of that for the small pump. Pressure is built up in the vent line 94 which goes from the relief valve of the smaller pump. The operator will adjust knob 86 to reduce the pressure to the clamp cylinder if a lower clamping pressure than the preset maximum is desired. The setting reached will appear on indicator 93.

The cutting operation begins with movement of control lever |2| away from its neutral or normal position and into its clamp depressing or actuating position which causes the cam block H8 to allow the locking bar |30 to move to the right as viewed in Fig. 16 under the urge of spring |54. As soon as the interlock mechanism clears the notch I2 in locking piece the operator may move the control handle ||4 to operate the knife bar cylinder 52. During the unlocking above described, the stem ||1 is actuating valve 9|. Fluid flow begins through line 90 and valve 9| to cylinder 69. The iluid beneath the piston is forced through valve 19, through line 95 to valve 9|, and through return line 96 to the reservoir 82. The movement of control lever l2 l, and consequently the downward movement of the clamp 63, can be stopped at any time. The movement can be reversed at any time, and the operator can also make a series,

tically simultaneously, the operator can push in' the controllever ||4'to operate theknjfe bar. However, he cannot move the knife bar until the interlock mechanism has been released due to some downward movement of the clamp control lever |2|. Thus the clamp must always precede the knife. The operator may, if he wishes, lower both the clampand the knife part way and then reverse their movement. He can reverse the movement of the knife alone without reversing the clamp, but the knife always has to start its return stroke before the clamp can start its return stroke. The interlock works both ways. Unless the knife control is freed, the bar cannot move far enough to the left in Fig. 16 to release the cam block |8.

When the operator moves control lever ||4 inwardly and locking block I is freed, valve 15 is operated to permit flow from the large pump through lines 12 and 16 to the top of cylinder 52. The fluid beneath the piston 5| passes through lines 11 and 8| back to the reservoir 82. As the piston is forced down, it pulls down the frame 8. The knife bar 28 and the floating clamp 46 are pulled down by the frame. When the iioating clamp 46 strikes the cushion 65 on the paper clamp 63, the blocks 42 cause the knife bar 28 to be drawn horizontally as well as vertically to give the knife a slicing action. This movement continues until the stops 53 and 54 meet the standards 3 and 4. After the cutting operation is completed, the operator, who has both hands on levers ||4 and |2|, will normally allow both levers to return to starting or normal position. The valves 15 and 9| are spring loaded, so that whenthe control levers are released they return immediately to the valve-closing position. Valve 15 now (when closed) passes the fluid under pressure from line 12 to line 11 and valve 9| passes the fluid from line through line 95. The pistons of both cylinders are forced in the opposite direction. Fluid over the piston 5| in cylinder 52 returns through pipe 16, valve 15 and pipe 8| to the reservoir. Fluid over the piston 68 in cylinder 69 passes through line 92, valve 9| and return pipe 96 to the reservoir. l

After the control levers have returned to neutral position and the machine is idle but operative, the knife occupies its uppermost or inoperative position. Piston 5| cannot move any further upward in cylinder 52 and the pressure beneath the piston and effective upon the unloading valve 13 rapidly increases. When it reaches a predetermined limiting value, unloading valve 13 operates, thereby connecting the output of the pump 1|a directly back to the reservoir so that the pump continues to operate but substantially without load. Meanwhile the clamp has also reached its upper limiting position in which piston 68 cannot move upwardly any further in cylinder 69. As a result the pressure in cylinder 69 also rapidly increases up to a predetermined value which results in operating sequence valve 19, thereby establishing a pressure connection from line to line 80. The unloading valve 13 unloads until the pressure in line 12 as far as check valve 14 is reduced from operating pressure to atmospheric pressure. Return lines 83 and 8|, and lines 16, 92, 96 and 91 are also at atmospheric pressure. Line 12 from check valve 14 to valve 15, and lines 11, 18, 80, 84, 81, 90, 94 and 95 are still under operating pressure. operated to cut paper, the smaller pump 1|b is still working'and it maintains enough pressure Although the machine is not beingV to: keep the vclamp. bar and knife 'barin raised position. The 'largerpump is. idling, and the onlyfloyvJ in its system is from they pump 'Ha through line 1.2 as far as the unloading valve and back to the reservoir.

No ow takesl place in lines 'I8 and 8i). These are purely pressure lines. When the pump 'Ha is forcing iiuid at full pressure through valve 151, to cause the knife to descend, lines 18 and 80 are at. atmospheric pressure; when pumplla is. working to raise the knife bar with a reduced pressure of about half the cutting action pressure and pump 1lb is workingV to raise the clamp with a reduced pressure of about half of its clamping pressure, there is pressure from left to right in lines i8 and 80"('as viewed in Fig. 16) but no ow. When the pump Ha isidling. and pump 't [bis acting tohold up the clamp, then the 'pressure in lines 1-8 and 8u is from right toleft.. The pressure line 80 thus serves to maintain a holding pressure in cylinder 52v when the pump 'Ha is idling and valve 13 isunloading, and the pressure line T8 serves asa pilot to regulate valve 13. Y

It is apparent, from the foregoing description and statement of' operation,I that the machine of the invention possesses several distinct and important advantages. It is now possible4 for an operator to bring the clamp and knife down at any speed he chooses and, if not absolutely satisfied with the setting, reverse both mechanisms without first proceeding through the full cutting cycle. He may use the. knife to niark the top of the stack, and' then release the stack from the knife, but not from the clamp, and' inspect it. He can use the clamp to pat down the stack without committing the knife to any movement, let alone' a full cycle of operation. He can reset the 'knife without looseningv it from? the knife bar. He does. this by adjusting the nuts 2-4 and 2-5 to narrow or spread the. gap between the separate sections of the. draw bars. I-Ie can thus either raise or lower the knife or tilt it either Way as required for proper cutting. It is not necessary to go through a complicated procedure of resetting the knife blade with respect to the knife bar. The interioriof. the machine is kept free-from trimmings: of waste material'. The machine is. easier tov operate because there are separate ycontrols Yfor the clamp Ybarand the knife bar, yet: this is. achieved with,- Vout loss of safety-v because the. knife. bar cannot be operated in advance of the .clam-p bar. Further, the .operatorl Vcan always. choose' thel preferred amount of pressurev in clamping the stack, thus adapting the pressure easily to the requirements, of the material being out. A

We claim:

1. A machine for cutting sheet material .and having a knife anda clamp. both movable from a raised inoperative position to a workingpsition comprising `hydraulic means for Iseparately Vactuatingsaidf .knife and said clam-p on `said working and return strokes of movement, power operated means. for supplying fiuid pressure to said hydraulic meansV to produce said working strokes, means. for supplying Vfluid pressure from Asaid iiuidpressurel supply `means for Separately retaining V-said knife andclamp in said raised positions intermediate said working strokes, and

-latch means engageablewith parts of said knife and: clamp. actuating means operable in response 'to Vilermln-ation. of Said, 'fluid pressi-le Supply monster-mechanically retain-ing said knife and saida in their.raised inoperative positions.

V 2.-A machine. for cutting sheet material comprising `in combination, a supportfor said material, a. knife movable from a raised inoperative position towardl said support o n a Working stroke to cut sheet material thereon, a clamp movable from a raised inoperative position toward said lnaterialY for clamping said material upon said support,y hydraulic power actuated means for operating said knife in a working cycle including a forward working stroke and a return stroke of movement, a knife actuating pump for supplying fluid under pressure to said hydraulic means, a second hydraulic means for actuating said clamp, a clamp actuating pump for supplying uid. under pressure to said second hydraulic means, means for selectively operating said clamp independently of and in coordinated relation with said knife in a Working cycle, means operative upon completion of said knife working cycle for eiiecting the unloading of said knife actuating pump, means for continuing said clamp pump in operation following completion of said knife operating cycle providing a continuing source of fluid pressure, means for supplying iiuid pressure from said continuous source to hold both said clamp and knife in said raised .inoperative positions, means for terminating said continuing source of fluid pressure, and latch means engageable with parts of said knife and clamp actuating means operable upon said termination of fluid pressure for mechanically retaining said knife and clamp in their said raised inoperative positions.

3. A machine for cutting sheet material comprising in combination, a support for said material, a knife movable from a raised inoperative position toward said support on a working stroke to cut sheet material thereon, a clamp movable from a raised inoperative position toward said material for clamping said material upon said support, hydraulic power actuated means for operating said' knife in a working cycle including a forward working stroke and a return stroke of movement, a knife actuating pump for suppl-yi-ng fluid under pressure to said hydraulic means, a second hydraulic means for actuating said clamp, a clamp actuating pump for supplying fluid under pressure to said second hydraulic means, means for selectively operating said clamp independently of and in coordinated relation with said knife in a working cycle, means operative upon completion .of said knife working cycle for effecting the unloading of said knife actuating pump, means for continuing said clamp pump in operation following completion of said knife operating cycleV providing a continuing source of uid pressure, means for supplying fluid rpressure from said continuing sourceto hold both said clamp and knife in said inoperative'positions, drivel means for actuating .said clamp pump, and latch means ,engageable with parts of said knife and clamp actuating means operable upon termination of operation ofv said drive means for mechanically retaining said knife and clamp in their said raised inoperative positions.

4. A machine for cutting sheet vmaterial comprising in combination, a support for said material,V a knife movable. from a raised inoperative position toward said support on a working stroke vto cut. sheet material thereon, a clamp movable from-a raised inoperative position toward said material for clamping said material upon said support, .hydraulic power actuated .means for .operating said knife in aworkng cycle including a forward working stroke and a return stroke of movement, a knife actuating pump for supplying fluid under pressure to said hydraulic means, a second hydraulic means for actuating said clamp, a clamp actuating pump for supply ing iiuid under pressure to said second hydraulic means, means for selectively operating said clamp independently of and in coordinated relation with said knife in a working cycle, means operative upon completion of said knife Working cycle for effecting the unloading of said knife actuating pump, means for continuing said clamp pump in operation following completion of said knife operating cycle providing a continuing source of fluid pressure, and means for supplying fluid pressure from said continuing source to hold both said clamp and knife in said raised inoperative positions.

5. A machine for cutting sheet material comprising in combination, a support for said material, a knife movable from a raised inoperative position toward said support on a Working stroke to cut sheet material thereon, a clamp movable from a raised inoperative position toward said material for clamping said material upon said support, a relatively large hydraulic power actuated means for operating said knife in a Working cycle including a forward working stroke and a return stroke of movement, a relatively large knife actuating pump for supplying uid under pressure to said hydraulic means, a relatively small hydraulic means for actuating said clamp, a relatively small clamp actuating pump for supplying fluid under pressure to said small hydraulic means, means for selectively operating said clamp independently of and in coordinated relation with said knife in a working cycle, means l operative upon completion of said knife working FRANK M. HILL. HAROLD H. LE BLANC.

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